Process for growth control of algae



United States Patent 3,177,140 PROCESS FOR GROWTH CONTROL OF ALGAE Robert J. Herschler, Camas, Wash, assignor to Crown Zellerbach Corporation, San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of Nevada No Drawing. Filed lune 5, 1962, Ser. No. 200,071 18 Claims. (Cl. 210- 64) This invention relates to a process for controlling the growth and propagation of algae by applying thereto organic disulfoxides and sulfoxides as effective algaecides.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a new process of controlling or inhibiting growth and The number of carbon atoms and chemical structure of the radicals in the above-mentioned compounds may Vary considerably as specified hereinbelow.

R may represent hydrogen or alkyl groups containing between 1 and carbon atoms, preferably between 3 and 6 carbon atoms in the Formulas 1 and 2 and 1 carbon atom (methyl group) in the Formula 3. R may repre sent either alkyl group containing between 6 and 23 carbon atoms, preferably between 10 and 14 carbon atoms, or alkaryl group, such as dodecyl benzyl group, containing between 7 and 23 carbon atoms, preferably between 10 and carbon atoms. R may represent an alkyl group containing between 1 and 4 carbon atoms, preferably a methyl group. The total number of carbon atoms in the sulfoxides and disulfoxides of this invention may vary between 6 and 24, preferably between 12 and 18 carbon atoms.

Typical compounds applicable to the process of the present invention which are represented by the formulas hereinabove include 6-7 dimethyl sulfinyl octadecane, illustrative of the Formula 1; 6-methylthio-7-methyl sulfinyl octadecane, illustrative of the Formula 2; methyl decyl, methyl undecyl, and methyl dodecyl sulfoxides, illustrative of the Formula 3.

Exemplary of the compounds of this invention which are most effective algaecides are methyl decyl through methyl octadecyl sulfoxides, and bis(methyl sulfinyl) alkane in which the alkane group contains between 10 to 16 carbon atoms. g

The compounds ofthis invention are useful'in suchimportant commercial applications as in swimming pools,

:cooling towers, and irrigation waters The sulfoxides and disulfoxides may be applied as algaecides in accordance 3,177,14d l atented Apr. 6, 1365 ice with this invention by incorporating into an aqueous me- Example 1 A microscopic green algae, Chlorella, was used in this example. A culture of the algae was maintained in a nutrient medium comprising magnesium sulfate (0.25 gram), calcium nitrate (1.0 gm.), sodium hydrogen phos-' phate (0.25 gm), potassium chloride (0.12 gm.), a trace of ferric chloride, and water 'to make 1 liter. 50- milliliter samples of the nutrient medium were placed in sterile glass Wool stoppered flasks. 1 ml..0f the nutrient medium containing the culture was added to each of the flasks to make up test samples. To each flask was added a different sulfoxide. The sulfoxide concentration in each test sample was at 50 p.p.m. level. The sulfoxides used were: methyl hexyl, methyl octyl, methyl decyl, methyl undecyl, methyl dodecyl, methyl tetradecyl, methyl hexadecyl, and methyl octadecyl sulfoxides. The treated test samples were maintained in a greenhouse with adequate sunlight. The sulfoxides were found to be very effective and algae kill was easily measured by disappearance of green chlorophyl color after a period of one week.

Example 2 The procedure of Example 1 was repeated using disulfoxides derived from the following olefins plus dimethyl disulfide followed by oxidation: hexene-l, octene-l, deccne-l, dodecene-l, tetradecene-l, and hexadecene-l. The disulfoxides were found to be very effective algaecides.

Example 3 Example 4 The procedure of Example 1 was followed except that the test period was 30 days and 6, 7-dimethyl sulfinyl octadecane was added at 5, 10 and 25 p.p.m. concentration level. Excellent and rapid control of algae growth was obtained.

Example 5 The procedure of Example 1 was followed using 6- methylthio-7-methyl sulfinyl octadecane at 5, 10 and 25 p.p.m. concentration level. Excellent control of algae growth was obtained in a test of 14 days duration.

Example 6 The test procedure of Example 1 was followed using dodecyl benzyl methyl sulfoxide at 5, 10 and 25 p.p.m. concentration level. Excellent control of growth and propagation of algae was obtained in a test of 14 days duration.

Thus from the foregoing description of this invention it will be apparent that I have discovered a new method ofapplying organic sulfoxides and disulfoxides as excel- 7 3 ent and highly effective agents for controlling .nd propagation of algae.

Reasonable Variations-and modifications are possible vithin the scope of the foregoing disclosure and appended ilaims, Having thusdescribed my invention in preferred =mbodirnents. I claim:

1. A methodof controlling the growth'and propaga the growth ionof algaewhichcomprises applyingto said algae an fiective amount of a compound selected from the group :onsistingv of disulfonides and sulfoxides representedby he general formulas:

a Rs vherein R is selected from the group consisting of hy- 13. The method ofgclaim l wherein .saidcompound comprises dodecyl benzyl methyl sulfoxide.

lrogen and alkyl group containing between 1 and 10 cara )OIl atoms R is selectedfrorn the group consisting of llkyl groups containing between 6 and 23 carbon atoms 1nd alkaryl groups containing between 7 and 23 carbon ttoms; R is an alkyl group containing between 1 and 4 :arbon atoms; and the total numberof carbon atoms in :aid compound is between 6 and 24. ,l

2. The method .of claim 1 wherein the total number )f carbon atoms is between 12 and 18. I

3. The method of claim 1-wherein tsaid compound is applied in a concentrationof atleast about 1 part per Y- nillion.

4. The methodof claim 1 wherein said compound is ippliedin lavconcentrationhbetween 5 and 100 parts pernillion,

5. The method of claim 1 wherein R in the Formulas l and 2 represents an alkyl group containing between 3 and 6 carbon atoms.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein R in the Formulas l and 2 representsa hydrogen atom.

7. The'methodofclaim 1 wherein R in the Formula 3 representsa methyl group. v

8. The method .of claim ,1 whereinR representsan alkyl group.

9. The :methodof claim 1. wherein R re resentsv an 14. The method oflclaim, 1 wherein said 'compound comprises methyl decyl sulfoxide."

15. The method of claim 1 wherein.said;compound comprises methyl undecyhsulfoxide.

16. ,The method .of claim 1 wherein; said comp oundo comprises methyl dodecyl sulfoxide.

17. The method of clairn l wherein v said compound comprises a,biflmethyl; sulfinyll alkane, in which the alkane groupmcontains between 10 to 116 carbon at oms.

I 8. A method of controllingthe growth. and propagation of algae which comprises applying. to said algae, in a concentrationbetween 5 andlOO parts per million, a compound selected from the group consisting of edisulfonides and sulfoxides represented by the general formulas:

wherein the total number ot carbon atoms in said compound is'between 12 to 18; R1 in Formulasl and 2 represents an alkyl group containing between 3 and 6 carbon atoms; R in Formula 3 represents a methyl group; R represents an alkyl group containing 10 to 14 total number of carbon atoms; and R represents a methyl group} ReferencesCited by) the. Examiner.

I UNITED STATES BATENTS 2,957,799, 10/60 .Goodhueeta1. 167 22 2,999,105 9/61 Louthan; 167-722 MQRRI O5 WQLK Primary Examiner. 

1. A METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE GROWTH AND PROPAGATION OF ALGAE WHICH COMPRISES APPLYING TO SAID ALGAE AN EFFECTIVE AMOUNT OF A COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF DISULFOXIDES AND SULFOXIDES REPRESENTED BY THE GENERAL FORMULA: 